What is the maximum adjustment allowed for an underground leak?

The maximum adjustment allowed for an underground leak is a 50% reduction in consumption. This is based on utility policies that aim to provide relief to customers who encounter significant issues such as underground leaks, which may lead to unexpected billing spikes due to undetected water loss.

Utility companies typically have guidelines to ensure that customers are not financially penalized for leaks that they couldn't control or detect in time. A 50% reduction acknowledges that while some consumption was indeed used, a substantial part of it was due to the leak and not actual usage by the customer. This is crucial for ensuring that the billing accurately reflects the customer's true water usage.

The other choices reflect adjustments that are either too low or suggest no flexibility in billing adjustments, which wouldn't adequately address the issue of unexpected consumptive losses due to leaks. The rationale behind allowing up to a 50% reduction is to balance the utility's need to recover costs while recognizing the customer's plight due to an unforeseen circumstance.